This thread is an attempt to trace the living family of John Davis, who was a Chindit casualty on the 19th March 1944. It is a long shot I know, but stranger things have happened on the site before now. Casualty This soldier was possibly the friend of Pte. Albert Stanley Evans from Bristol, who was another casualty from the second Chindit expedition in 1944. I will be creating a replica post for Albert shortly. What do we know about John Davis: He was the son of John and Ellen Davis and the husband of Maud Davis from Harborne near Birmingham. He was originally posted to the Royal Engineers, but was transferred to the 2nd King's Own Royal Regiment and served on the second Chindit expedition, Operation Thursday. John went missing on the 19th March 1944, near the Burmese town of Mansi. A missing in action report states that John and another Chindit, RAF Sgt. Richard Southgate went to retrieve a mailbag after a supply drop had gone astray, but never returned. Southgate perished as a POW in Rangoon Jail, but Cpl. Davis was never seen again and so is remembered upon the Rangoon Memorial. Forum member Tony B. has furnished me with John's inscription upon Face 5 of the Rangoon Memorial. That is all I know really. As I say, I am looking to find his living relatives, so thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.
Having trouble nailing this guy down, using the CWGC details on Ancestry, these are slightly different to the 'casualty' details from CWGC direct The above shows his parents as living in Weoley Castle, now this is sometimes shown as being in Worcestershire, if you try Harborne this is sometimes shown as Staffordshire, and if you try Birmingham then thats shown as Warwickshire - so all in all its proving a headache Obviously any more details on him should help - have you thought about applying for his service records?? TD
John's mother placed an appeal for information on his whereabouts in the Warwickshire paper Evening Despatch 17 Oct 1945, page 3. I used the search term 'Cpl John Davis'. Albert Evan's brother, Ronnie, is mentioned in a paper 1940 having a cycling accident. I think I came across that using search term 'crofts end road' (the address they were at on the 1939 Register).
At present I can find a possible marriage - they are the only John Davis and 'Maud' married in Birmingham at about a reasonable date England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Name: John Davis Registration Date: Apr 1935 [May 1935] [Jun 1935] Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun Registration district: Birmingham Inferred County: Warwickshire Spouse: Maud A Evans Volume Number: 6d Page Number: 261 He was 31 in 1944 so born around 1913ish - so in 1935 would be 22ish TD OK - there is a tree but not very detailed John Davis 1913– BIRTH ABT 1913 DEATH Unknown Marriage 8 Jun 1935 • Birmingham, St Nicolas, Warwickshire, England Maud Alice Evans (1912–1993) Maud Alice Evans 1912–1993 BIRTH 18 JUL 1912 • Birmingham DEATH 16 FEB 1993 • Adelaide, Australia Hmm trying to check out Davis born to a mother with maiden name Evans 1940 +/- 5 years in Staffordshire/Warwickshire/Worcestershire/Birmingham
Hi All, Thanks for all your efforts. There is no relationship between the two families, that is Davis and Evans, apart from the soldiers service in Burma. Please don't go digging too much on my behalf, although obviously I appreciate it very much indeed.
Understand that there is no connection between the 2 families, but as you see the coincidence of Davis marrying an Evans then according to stories becomes the best mate of a fellow soldier called Evans - spooky or not TD
Hi There The family you ask about is John Henry Davis ( son ) and June Davis ( daughter ). Both the children emigrated to Australia as adults in the 80's with their respective families. Maud Davis Pvt J Davis wife emigrated a couple of years later. Maude passed away in 1986 and is buried in the Enfield Cemetery Adelaide South Australia.. Both John & June are still alive and reside in Adelaide South Australia. John Davis is my Grand Father though obviously I never met him, I have often wondered just what happened to him.
Hi There The family you ask about is John Henry Davis ( son ) and June Davis ( daughter ). Both the children emigrated to Australia as adults in the 80's with their respective families. Maud Davis Pvt J Davis wife emigrated a couple of years later. Maude passed away in 1986 and is buried in the Enfield Cemetery Adelaide South Australia.. Both John & June are still alive and reside in Adelaide South Australia. John Davis is my Grand Father though obviously I never met him, I have often wondered just what happened to him.
Hi mitman, It was great to read your message and that you have learnt something about your grandfather John Davis. If you would like the information I have about him, then let me know and I can make this happen. The original post came to light mostly through a photograph held by another Chindit family which featured Albert Evans and another man named Davis who had died in Burma. When looking through the Commonwealth Graves website, the only man that matched from the King's Own Royal Regiment was your grandfather. Hope to hear from you soon.